Arrest made in alleged parrot theft, but bird is still missing

Posted
Saturday, January 5, 2013 10:03 pm

By Andrew Amelinckx, Berkshire Eagle Staff,

Sunday January 6, 2013

PITTSFIELD -- Police arrested a 52-year-old man on Saturday after he allegedly walked into a local pet store and stole a $600 parrot and then attempted to sell the bird at a number of local businesses, including two city bars.

While police say they have Charles Williamson of Pittsfield in custody, they are still looking for the Sun Conure, a brightly-colored South American parrot, he allegedly stole on Friday afternoon from the Petco on Merrill Road.

According to the Pittsfield Police, an employee of Petco called them shortly after 3 p.m. on Friday to report that he had just been approached outside of the store by a man with a parrot in his hands asking the employee for a ride. The employee called police after going inside and discovering the empty cage where the bird had been kept.

A short time later, police began receiving reports from several businesses in the Tyler Street area about a man attempting to sell a bird. According to police, Williamson first went to Fin & Feather Pet Shop before hitting up patrons at Charlie’s, Zen’s Pub and The Hot Dog Ranch in an apparently unsuccessful attempt to sell the parrot.

But when Williamson was arrested by a police officer Saturday on School Street near police headquarters the bird was no longer with him.

Pittsfield Police Officer Shaun Osborn said that they are continuing to search for the bird after information they received from Williamson on the parrot’s whereabouts "didn’t pan out."

Williamson, who was still in police custody as of Saturday afternoon, is facing single counts of felony larceny over $250 and animal cruelty. He will likely be arraigned on Monday in Central Berkshire District Court.

Police are asking that anyone with information on the crime contact Officer Osborn at (413) 448-9700.

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